Best Electric Toothbrush for Kids 2024

These are my recommendations for the best electric toothbrush for kids.

I ask all of the children I see for check ups in my clinic, whether they use an electric toothbrush or a manual one.

There’s no doubt that the right answer is an electric toothbrush (1). But having the right brush alone doesn’t mean healthy teeth. You need to have the right brushing technique too.

Thankfully there are some great products out there to help children develop good oral hygiene habits, improve their brushing technique, and give them a head start on their way to a lifetime of good oral health.

I advise parent to get their children to use electric toothbrushes from around the age of 4-5 years of age, but some children are ready for them earlier.

Having a gentle and specialised brush for them can be a game changer. No more tantrums, they might actually LOOK FORWARD to brushing!

I recommend the Brush-Baby BabySonic Kids Toothbrush for kids under 3, the Oral-B Pro Kids Electric Toothbrush for 3-6 year olds, and the Oral-B Pro Junior Kids Electric Toothbrush for kids over 6. All these provide an excellent clean (as proven by plaque disclosing tablets), a 2 week+ battery life, are well designed for less dextrous hands, and are easy to operate.

6 Top Picks

Best electric toothbrush for kids Under 3s – Brush-Baby BabySonic Kids,Toddler Electric Toothbrush, 0-36 Months

Best electric toothbrush for 3-6 years –  Oral-B Pro Kids Electric Toothbrush

Best electric toothbrush for kids (6+ years) – Oral-B Pro Junior Kids Electric Toothbrush

Best app interactive toothbrush for kids – Philips Sonicare For Kids Electric Toothbrush

Best value for money electric toothbrush for kids – Dada-Tech Kids Electric Toothbrush Rechargeable

Best AA Battery Electric toothbrush for kids – Colgate Minions Kids Toothbrush, Battery-Powered Toothbrush for Kids

Best Electric Toothbrush for Kids Under 3

Brush-Baby BabySonic Toddler Electric Toothbrush

Why it’s good for kids:

It’s not quite all singing and dancing as an adult electric brush, but it’s a great starting point for your baby or toddler. The handle is easy to hold and comfortable for children and parents. Together with the LED light and timer, it helps parents clean their kids teeth with more predictable success. The brush head only vibrates, which doesn’t clean as well as the small rotating brush found on models for older children, but still provides a great clean for toddlers.

The idea of replaceable heads is great, as if your child chews through the bristles and heads quickly, you don’t need to replace the whole brush. The heads are around £6 for a 4-pack, which is good value for an electric brush.

The sucker on the bottom was also a quirky feature, as my daughter enjoyed sticking it to the sink (and wall tiles) when she was done!

Pros: Great for helping your child brush, specific size heads for different ages

Cons: Takes AAA Battery which will need replacing

Best Electric Toothbrush for Kids (3-6 Years Old)

Oral-B Pro Kids Electric Toothbrush

Why its good for kids:

The best cleaning is delivered by a small round oscillating rotating head (2) and this is the youngest age where it can be introduced to your child’s oral hygiene regime. It’s essentially a mini version of the brush I recommend for adults. It will clean away plaque effectively, reducing gum inflammation and decay.

This brush has a gentle mode which is great for introducing your child to the new sensations. The design is kid friendly and customisable, and battery life lasts around 2 weeks between charges. The bristles also change colour to indicate a need to replace the head.

This brush also has a simple timer app as a visual aid if you would like to connect it with your smart phone, although personally I prefer not to have my children asking for my phone every time they want to brush.

Available in: Cars, Spiderman, Frozen and Disney Princess designs.

Pros: Soft small round heads, 2 minute timer.

Cons: Replacement heads can be costly (around 4 x £10)

Best Electric Toothbrush for Kids (6+ years)

Oral-B Pro Junior Kids Electric Toothbrush

Why its good for kids:

As your kids get older, you need to ensure they’re not brushing too hard as this can damage their gums. This brush has all the benefits of the previous one, but also has a pressure sensor which lights up red if they need to easy up.

It has a more mature style for older kids, a timer to make sure they don’t rush, and also comes with a handy travel case for holidays and sleepovers.

It has 3 Modes – Clean, Sensitive (which is gentler) and Polish (the head spins faster to remove stains).

Pros: Great design, 3D cleaning head, Travel case

Cons: No App.

Best Interactive App Toothbrush for Kids

Philips Sonicare For Kids Electric Toothbrush

Why its good for kids:

If you’re really struggling to get your child to brush their teeth well regularly this brush with app can help them engage. The adventure of Sparkly, the lovable purple monster, helps teach them about brushing different surfaces of their teeth, and also tracks and rewards their progress.

The brush itself is effective in removing plaque and feels solid in build quality. The brush heads have soft bristles which are robust, and the heads tended to last a little longer than the Oral-B ones. It also comes with stickers to help children customise their brush, making them more likely to love it.

Note: This one comes with a US socket plug charger, so you may need a converter.

Pros: Interactive app is fun and engaging.

Cons: Larger heads, may be more difficult to get into hard to reach places

Best Value for Money Electric Toothbrush for Kids

Dada-Tech Kids Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush

Why its good for kids:

I think my 4 year old daughter loved this brush the most simply because of the design. It came ready to use out of the box, and she quickly got the hang of turning it on and using it. Its cheaper than other well known brands, but even better value for money as it came with 3 spare brush heads (which was great as she tends to chew through them 🙄 – we’re working on it!).

It has three different modes, a gentle clean, a more intense stain removal, and then a combo of the two (massaging).The light on the bottom changes as you flick through the modes. It also has vibration isolation technology, which means most of the vibration is in the brush rather than the handle which makes it more comfortable to grip and use.

The battery so far has lasted more than 2 weeks on a single charge.

(Read our full review on Dada-Tech Kids Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush ET-KE9)

Pros: Great design, value for money, comes with extra heads

Cons: Brush heads not so robust

Best AA Battery Electric toothbrush for kids

Colgate Minions Kids Toothbrush, Battery-Powered Toothbrush for Kids

Why its good for kids:

It can be a big change for some children switching from a manual toothbrush to an electric. If you want to test whether your child is ready for the switch before splashing out on any of the brushes above you might want to try a cheaper battery powered one first. The vibration is gentle yet effective, and the head is the perfect size to get all the way around their little teeth.

Adding well known characters to the mix can help with transition. They heads aren’t changeable, but these products are designed to last only months, rather than years. The AA battery can be changed but its likely the brush head will be frayed and ineffective before the battery runs out.

Pros: Cheap, great intro to powered brushing

Cons: Only lasts 1-2 months, no replaceable heads

Buying Guide – What to look for?

When buying an electric toothbrush for kids there are some specific things you should consider:

Age Appropriate

You can give your child an electric toothbrush (or at least a battery powered one) from the age of three. We then recommend them all the way up until they’re adults. Toothbrushes for younger kids can have wider handles to help them with dexterity. The designs can also change with their personality as they grow; your teenage kid may not want a Mickey Mouse themed toothbrush!

Ease of use

Is it easy to charge? Can you charge using a USB port? Is it easy to switch on and off, or switch between modes? The easier the brush is to use the better. Some toothbrushes also have an auto switch off function which can help conserve battery life.

Two minute timer

Often kids (and adults) don’t brush the recommended two minutes. It can be really difficult to gauge how long you’ve been brushing for unless you have a timer. Thankfully most electric toothbrushes can help with this.

Many of the brushes have an on-board vibration which can train your kids to spend time 30 seconds brushing each quarter of their mouth, which a different vibration when you reach two minutes. This can however be difficult to grasp for some kids, so an app with visual can really help children get their teeth clean.

In fact studies show that most people should actually be brushing for at least 4 minutes* for your mouth to be plaque free (3). Now that is a long time!

_{*Average 28 teeth x 3 surfaces (front, back and top) = 84 surfaces x 3 seconds = 240 seconds – 4mins}

Pressure sensors

Often we tend to brush too hard as we’re trying to remove stains from our tooth surfaces. But brushing hard can be too harsh for our delicate gums which need a much more gentle approach. Good electric toothbrushes come with pressure indicators, such as a light which flashes if you’re applying too much pressure, encouraging you to ease off.

Rechargeable Battery

Battery life is huge issue for me. We get given many different electric toothbrushes to try and often one of the main reasons I DON’T recommend a particular brush is because I’m not impressed with the battery life.

The modern electric toothbrush might have a screen, bluetooth connectivity and fancy lights etc, but if you use all these your battery will not last very long. I would say charging every 7-10 days is acceptable, anything less is a nuisance.

I get it. Charging can be a hassle, but I feel the effort is worth the cleaning benefits an electric toothbrush provides.

Its usually easier if you have a shaving charger plug point in your bathroom. USB charging or a charging case is often more convenient than mains charging.

There are also battery powered brushes (AA or AAA) which can be replaced. They don’t generally have a low battery indicator, so can be unpredictable. You may find once the battery runs out and the head does not vibrate, kids may start to chew the brush, which leads to splayed bristles which can’t remove plaque effectively. 

Cost of Replacement Heads

The brush is only the initial cost outlet. It’s best to have a quick look at the price of replacement brush head and factor in that you’ll need to change them every 3 months. It’s essential that you monitor your kids (up to 6 years old) while brushing, as chewing or biting the brush head will mean you need to change them more often.

Apps and games

A phone to help kids with brushing? Yes and it can really help make the process fun. Whether it be streaks, earning rewards, or just great visuals and songs, integrated apps can help your kids brush better for longer and actually enjoy it. 

Gamification can encourage kids to develop good habits. Brush your teeth and you’ll save the kingdom, banish the monster, or earn new sunglasses for your character.

It can be annoying at times, as phones, kids and bathroom sinks are not always the best combination.

Plaque removal

What’s the point of brushing your teeth? Well to remove those nasty bugs in the softish white build up that comes up on our teeth. These can cause tooth decay and gum problems, and removing plaque helps prevent these dental problems. We need a brush which removes as much plaque and bacteria as possible.

That’s why we tested these brushes with our kids and plaque disclosing tablets. These show up the plaque left behind, with better brushes removing more plaque.

Sonic Vs Oscillating Rotating

In the world of electric brushing, there are two main technologies for plaque removal. Sonic brushes vibrate and pulse to move the bristles to remove plaque, and oscillating rotating brushes have a small round head that spins backwards and forwards. Both are good, but when it comes to recommendations I prefer the rotating head by Oral B as it has better clinical evidence in reducing dental problems (2).

Head size

Smaller heads are better for smaller mouths. They are also more effective in cleaning plaque from hard to reach areas. One of the reasons an electric brush is better than manual is they tend to have smaller heads.

Handle Design 

Handle needs to be large enough for a young child to grip on to easily, without being too heavy and bulky. They need to help make it easier for kids to move the brush head effectively into all the hard to reach areas . Some handle may have rubber surfaces for grip, or grooves for their little fingers. 

Characters

Marvel, Barbie, Batman, Bluey. Whoever your kid idolises at the time, taking time to show them what you’ve got for them, and making it as exciting as possible for their new toothbrush, you will help them feel engaged and enthusiastic about brushing . WIth so many characters available, you can definately find one they’ll love. Let them pick the design; being involved in the buying process will also get them using their new toothbrush more frequently.

How we tested kids electric toothbrushes

Being a dentist, and having two kids, I was already halfway there with this product trial. I picked up some plaque disclosing tablets from work, and ordered a bunch of the top-rated electric toothbrushes for kids online.

I used them with my 7 year old and 4 year olds and asked them what they liked and disliked.

I also assessed their teeth before and after to see how well they had removed plaque. In addition to this, I had a look at how they bristles had fared after a month of use, and took into account how well the kids engaged with the products/apps while brushing.

Frequently Asked Questions 

Do dentists recommend electric toothbrushes for kids?

Yes, many dentists recommend electric toothbrushes for kids. They can be effective in helping children maintain proper oral hygiene by providing thorough and efficient cleaning.

How to motivate my child to brush well with an electric toothbrush?

Make brushing fun by choosing a toothbrush with colourful designs or featuring their favourite characters. Set a routine, brush together as a family, and consider using apps or games that encourage good brushing habits.

How often do I need to replace heads?

It is generally recommended to replace the toothbrush heads every 3 to 6 months or sooner if the bristles show signs of wear. Regular replacement ensures optimal cleaning performance and hygiene.

Are there specific toothbrushes for babies?

If you have a young child and are not sure whether to go for the baby sonic electric brush or go for a baby specific manual toothbrush check out my Best Baby Toothbrush guide.

Our Verdict

Overall, the electric toothbrush range for children has come a long way over the last 10 years. There’s an electric toothbrush for a child of every age and ability. I recommend the Brush-Baby BabySonic Kids Toothbrush for kids under 3, the Oral-B Pro Kids Electric Toothbrush for 3-6 year olds, and the Oral-B Pro Junior Kids Electric Toothbrush for kids over 6. All these provide an excellent clean in our tests with the plaque disclosing tablets, a long battery life, are well designed, and easy to use.

In addition to brushing well at home, and encouraging a low sugar balanced diet, you should also take your child along for a dental check up at least twice a year. A dentists will be able to check their teeth, and provide you with tailored advice on caring for your child’s teeth. If you don’t have a local dentist, find a dentist near you.